Stories

Eric is a kindergarten student who rarely chose to play at recess. He was pleasant and talkative with teachers and recess staff, but was hesitant to interact with classmates. One day, Eric came to recess carrying…

News

In 2017, Playworks and the American Institutes for Research (AIR) partnered to learn more about how effective recess teams drive strong quality and recess outcomes. Close your eyes and picture the best recess you can imagine. What does that look like to you? A quality recess is one that is safe, engaging, and empowering. Play…

A takeaway from a recent American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical study review, which details the wide-ranging benefits of play for children. From the AAP, here are 20 reasons why those 20 minutes of recess are vital—and why the quality of that playtime is critical. (Stock photo via Pixabay)

We had so much fun seeing everyone playing Freeze Tag at the Mounds View High School stadium at our “We Play Together” Event. Thank you to Mounds View Public Schools for this fantastic partnership. Seven hundred people came together for a giant game of Freeze Tag. We also welcomed the newest cohort of Junior Coaches…

Jill Vialet is founder and CEO of Playworks, a nonprofit that partners with schools to promote exercise and social and emotional health through recess. With nearly 700 employees in 23 offices around the country, Playworks expects to reach 1.25 million children at 2,500 elementary schools this year—the majority from low-income families and neighborhoods. Photograph by Eric Kayne